Knitting-machine.



Patented July 25, 1899.

J. D. HEMPHILL.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Appliation filed Sept. 24, 1898.)

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(No Model.)

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Patented July 25, I899.

J. n. HEMPHILL.

KNITTING MACHINE. (Application filed Sept. 24, 1598.

{No Model.) l2 Sheets Sheet z.

WITNESSES |NVENTOR THE uonms PEPERS 90.. PHOTD-LIYNQ, wnsnmcrou o c No. 629,503. Patented July 25, I899.

J. D. HEMPHILL.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 24,1898.)

(No Model.) l2 Sheets-Sheet 3. v

WITNESSES l v Z o/W "m: Norms Parsas cow Pnoraumu, WASHINGTON. 0. cv

Patented July 25, I899. J. D. HEMPHILL. v KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 24, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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WITNESSES I INVENTOR me "cams wnzas co.. PHOTO-LUNG" wnsumcrom u. c.

No. 629,503. Patented July 25, 1899.

- J. D. HEMPHILL.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 24, 1898.)

'(No Model.) l2 Sheets-Sheet 6.

THE NORRIS PETERS c0 FHOTU-L|THO., WASHINGYON. g. c,

No. 629,503. Patented July 25, I899. J. D. HEMPHILL. KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 24, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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- Patented July 25, I899.v J. D. HEMPHILL.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sent. 24. 1898.)

I2 SheetsSheet 9.

N0 Model.)

INVENTOR THE cams PETERS 0o, woro-umu, WASHINGTON. u c.

No. 629,503; Patented July 25, I899. J. D. HEMPHILL. KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 24, 1898.)

I2 $heets-Sheet ID.

(No Model.)

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No. 629,503. Patented July 25, I899.

J. n. HEMPHILL.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept- 24, 1898.)

me Model.) l2 Sheets- Sheet ridges.

WITNESSES INVENTOR THE Nonms PUERS no, Pnowumo" WASHINGTON. uv n.

N0. 629,503. Patented July 25,1899.

J. D. HEMPHILL.

KNITTING MACHINE;

(Application fil'ed Sept. 24'; 1898:)

I2 Sheets-Sheet I2.

'(No Model.)

. m uuil INVENTOR WITNESSES P THE NORRIS PETERS co. womuruon wnsumown, n. cy

JOSHUA D. HEMPHILL, SHELTON PATE T Farce.

, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR on ONE- HALF TO VALTER XV. RADCLIFFE AND FREDERICK W. RADCLIFFE,

OF SAME PLACE.

KNITTING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,503, dated July 25,1899.

Application filed SeptembcrZ l, 1898. Sei'ia1No.691,792. on model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOSHUA D. HEMPHILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shelton, countyof Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Knitting-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type or class of circular-knitting machines in which web holders or sinkers are employed cooperating with latch-needles informing the knitted articles, particularly stockings and half-hose; and the invent-ion has special reference to that type or classwhioh is adapted to knit complete. seamless stockings, With'heel and toe portions composed of a different yarn, and in which all of the operations are accomplished automatically. I

Among the objects of my invention are the dispensing with the usual plurality of'pickercams for renderingthe -needles inoperative and again active-0ne by one during nar rowing and widening and substituting. therefor a single picker capable of producing these results, the provision of improved yarnchanging mechanisrinthe production of means for lengthening the "stitch by raising the nee-- die-cylinder, the provision of means Whereby the web holders or sinkers may hereadily removed and replaced-and changed from one side of the machine to the other, the provision of means whereby the needles may be readily removed and replaced, and in general the simplification and reduction of cost of machines of this type and to increase't-heirdiira bility and certainty and rapidity. of action.

To these ends theinventionconsists in the construction and combination of parts substantially as hereinafter described and claimed, referring to the accompanyingdrawings, in which similar reference characters designate the same or similar parts in all the views.

Figure 1 representsa side elevation of the machine complete. Fig. 1..is a detail view of the pinion and segment gear for imparting reciprocating rotary movement to the camring. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the parts of the machine below the bed. Fig.

3' represents a side elevation from the left of Fig. 2. Fig. at represents an enlarged plan view of the knitting mechanism. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation, partlyin section, on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is a detail rear elevation of one of the cams shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 represents a horizontal section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a vertical section through the cylinder, bed-plate, and main shaft. Fig. 8 represents a detail side elevation of the cylinder and needles and one of the knitting-cams when doing continuous or rOundand-round work. Fig. 9 represents a view of the cylinder and needles and parts operating in connection therewith when on heel-and-toe Work. Fig. 10 represents-a plan view of the ring-cam for raising the needles. Fig. 11 represents a detail elevation of the cams for operating the yarn-changin g devices andfor shifting the fulcrum of the picking-finger.- Fig. 12 represents an elevation from the right of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 represents a detail elevation: of the needle-cylinderand the picking-finger. Fig. 1% represents a similar view,

but with the picking-finger movedto another I .positionand parts being indicated in section. Fig. 15 represents a detail elevation of the cam for oscillating the picking-finger. Fig. .16 represents a horizontal section of the needle-cylinder and: plan of the picking-finger,

the dotted lines indicating the change in position of thepicking-finger as it throws Zine needle up or down in narrowingor widening .for heel or toe. Fig. 17 represents a view similar to Fig. 8, but with the. partsin position when knitting heel or toe. Fig. 18 rep side elevation of the cam-disk for controlling the elevation of the cylinder and the eleva- Fig. 22 represents a tion of the cams shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Fig. 25 represents an edge viewof said camdisk. Fig. 26 represents a detail view of the clutch-shifting mechanism. Fig. 27 represents in detail the automatic lock and release for securing the needle-cylinder in its hearing or permitting its release therefrom to p'revent breakage of needles or when it is desired to rotate the cylinder in its bearing. Fig. 28 represents a detail section on line 28 28 of Fig. 27. Fig. 29 represents a detail elevation of one of the. bobbins and the yarn-tension. Fig. 30 represents a detail section through one side of the needle-cylinder and web holder or sinker ring. Fig. 31 represents a detail section, enlarged, on line 31 31 ofFig. 2, looking toward the right. Fig. 32 represents a detail end view of the picking-finger. Fig. 33represcnts a detail of a pattern-chain employed when knitting long hose or ladies stockings,the chain having diiferently-spaced lugs or cams forthe increased length of hose and additional ones for changing the length of stitch in some portions of the hose. Fig. 34 represents the stocking produced by the machine when the pattern-chain shown in Fig. 19 is employed. Fig. 35 represents a View of the sole of the hose before boarding.

'The bed 1 of the machine is supported by a suitable frame 2, mounted on legs 3, a cupshaped bearing 4 being formed below said bed, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7 and to which reference will be made hereinafter.

The main shaft of the machine is represented at 7 and is provided with the large bevel-gear b, secured thereto at one end,while the other end is mounted in a sleeve 9, to which is secured a singledriving-pulley 10, havinga crank-handle 11, as isusual for hand working of the machine] A single loose pulley 12 is mounted on an extension of the hub of the driving-pulley. Loosely mounted'on the shaft adjacent to the gearS is a pinion 13,while the innerend of the sleeve 9 is formed as a pinion 14. Between the pinions l3 and 14 the shaft is provided with a clutch-hub 15, the said shaft being formed angular or provided with a feather to permit the hub to slide thereon while held from independent rotation i thereon. The said clutch-hub is shown in Fig. 7 as provided with two projections or teeth 16 to engage a groove in one or the other of the pinions 1314 and is also provided with an angular groove .17 to receive pins or rollers 18,.earried by a shifting yoke 13, said yoke being secured to one end of a rock-shaft 20, (see Figs. 2 and 26,) mounted in a bearing 21 and oscillated by mechanism described hereinafter.

A gear 22 (see Figs. land 2) is mounted in a suitable bearing supported by the frame and meshes with pinion 14 and is constantly driven thereby during the operation of both the round-and-round work and heel-and'toeknitting operation. Said gear 22 is provided with a crank-pin 23, (see Fig. 1,) to which is connected one end of a pitman 24, the other end of said pitinan being connected with one end of an elbow-lever 25, mounted on a shaft 26, supported in standards 27; The other end of the lever 25 is provided with a segmental gear 29, which meshes with pinion 13 on the main shaft. (See Figs. 1, 1, 2, and 7.)

It will now be understood that when the clutch-hub is in engagement with the pinion 14, which is constantly driven, the gear 8 will be rotated continuouslyin one direction, since both the gear 8 and the clutch hub are nonrotatable on the shaft. During this time the segmental gear is im parting a rotary reciprocating motion to the pinion 13, which is loose on the shaft; but when the clutch-hub is shifted to engage the pinion 13 it is disengaged from pinion 14, which latter then through gear 22, pitman 24, lever 25, segmentalgear 29, pinion 13, and clutch-hub 15 impartsto the shaft and to the gear 8 a rotary reciprocating motion. ver imparts movement to the pattern-chain and to certain cams through the medium of pawls by the mechanism now to be described.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2,3, and 19 to 25, inclusive, a shaft 30 is shown as mounted in bearings 32, support ed by the frame. Loosely mounted on this shaft .is a ratchet 33, to one side of which is secured the pattern-chain pulley 34, said pulley having the usual teeth to engage the links of the. pattern-chain 35, some of said links'having the lugs or cams 36.

The ratchet 33 and pulley 34 are driven in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 19 and 20 by means of a pawl 37, pivotally connected with one end of anelbow-arm 38, (see Fig. 1,) mounted on shaft 26, the other end of said arm 33being securedto the sideof the elbow-lever 25 by meansofa bolt 39, passing through a slot 40 in the. arm 33. A bracket 41 is secured ,to the frame of the machine,

The motion of the elbow-letoo (see particularly Fig. 2,) and bolted to this bracket is a shield 42, on which the. pawl .37 rides during portion of its stroke. The shield is setl'ut-edtirnilyto the bracket by means of asingle bolt, by means ofwhich said shield maybe readily raised or lowered to per- "time pawl to engage a tooth of the ratchet at a point more or MTHSSTGUlOtO from its extreme forwardlimit of motion, and thus adjust the amount of feed impartedto the pattern-chain. A ratchet 43 (see Fig. .2, 21,

and 23) is secured to the shaft 30on the opposite side of the pulley 34, and this ratchet, which may be termed the cam -driving ratchet since it rotates the cam carrying shaft 30, is adapted to be intermittently rotated by means of a pawl 44 when permitted by the lugs of the chain. The pawl44, like the pawl 37, is also pivotally connected with the elbow-lever 25 and is reciprocated thereby, said pawl 44 normally riding on a shield 45. The said shield is pivoted on a pin 46, carried by the bracket 41 and extending over both ratchets and the chainpulley, and the shield is provided with an arm 47, having a pin 48, which projects into the path of movement of the chain-lugs. A spring 49 is coiled about the pin 46 and tends tohold the arm and shield in the position shown in Fig. 21; but

' when a chain-lug raises the pin 48 the shield disks carriedjthereby, which are yet to be described.

Adjacent to the ratchet 43 a clutch-operating cam-disk 50 is secured to the shaft 30. This disk is shown in Figs. 22 and 23 as cut away at one side for lightness. It is provided with four grooves 51 in its periphery, these grooves being formed in alternately opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 2 and as indicated by the dotted linesin Fig. 22. The rockshaft 20, heretofore describedin connection with the clutch-hub 15, (see Fig. 26 in connection with Figs; 1, 2, and 7,) is providedwith an upwardly-extending arm 52 at its front end, to the side ofwhich is secured a spring-arm 53, the lower end of which extends below the rock-shaft and engages thecamdisk 50. The width of the periphery of the disk 50 is greater than the arc of movement that would be naturally given to the lower end of .the arm'while the clutch-hub 1 51s moving from one of the pinions 13 or 14 to the other. Hence the arm 53 is made somewhat elastic and its lower end bears with considerable pressure against one side or the other of the periphery of the disk 50. This elasticity of the arm causes it to enter the grooves 51 alternatelyas the disk is rotated, the further rotation of the'disk immediately causing the inclined side of the groove into which the arm has sprung to force the. arm over to the other side of the disk, thus shifting the clutch-hub. I

it is to be understood, of course, that one complete rotation of the shaft30 and its cams takes place duringthe knitting of one stocking, .the length of the article .andjits shape being-controlled by the. length of the chain employed and the spacing and number ofthe lugs carried by said chain. The knitting operation itself continues uninterruptedly without regard to the rotation of said shaft and cams and will be described hereinafter; but when a stocking is finished, however, the rotation of said shaft effects the automatic stoppage of the entire knitting operation, and during the single rotation of the shaft it also effects two temporary shifts of thedriving-belt to slow down or case off the machine when the clutch-hub is moved into engagement with the pinion 13. This movement of the hub changes the knitting from circular or round-and-round work to the narrowing or widening at heel or toe, one-half of the needles being'thrown out of action, as hereinafter described. During the narrowing or widening the knitting-cams have a reciprocating rotary motion through the segment and other gearing hereinbefore described, and the change to this motion from the continuous rotary motion causes a resistance,whioh renders it desirable to provide for slowing down or easing ot'f the machine, as mentioned. The means for doing this will now be described.

' At one end of the shaft 30 the right-hand end in Fig. 23 (see also Figs. 1 and 2)'there is secured a disk 60, having three carmlugs 61 on its side near the edge. These are adapted to operate successively against a pin or roller 62, carried bya lever 63, pivoted at 64 to the frame of the machine, the lower end of the lever being acted on by a spring 65 to keep the pin or rollerin engagement with the camdisk. The upper end of the lever 63 carries a belt-guide 66 of the usual type for shifting a belt, curved partly around the belt-pulley and adaptedto shift a belt (not shown) from the fast pulley 10 (see Fig. 7) to the loose pulley 12 when a cam 61 actson the shippingleve'r, and vice versa when the cam 61 leaves .thepin of said lever, the spring 65 causing the driving-belt held on the loose pulley, thus stopping the machine. :To start the machine,

it is only necessary to lift the spring-latch-and permit the spring 65 to cause the belt-shipping lever 63 to restore the belt tothe fast pulley, it being understood that the movement of the disk.60 which caused thelever' to be caught byt'he spring-latch'was sulficient to carry the cam-lug just beyond the roller 62 ofthe lever. The othertwocam-lugs 61 are of a thickness suflicient to cause the lever to shift the belt onto the. loose pulley, but not to cause the lever to be engaged by the springlatch, andhence the power is thrown off the machine but momentarily, and these twolastmentioned cams are so located on the disk 60 that the power is thrown off only at the moment when the change in the knitting above described is taking place. The cam-lugs are of a length to be brought under the roller 62 to operate the lever 63 and to pass beyond it during the time that" the pawl 44 (see Fig. 21) is making one stroke to partly turnthe shaft 30 and its earns, the belt barely passing off the fast pulley before it is shifted back again. The cup-shaped bearing 4 supports the cam ring 70, which is provided with bevel-teeth that are engaged by the teeth of the gear 8. Thiscam-ring, as has been hereinbefore mentioned, is revolved continuously to produce circular or rouud-and-round work or is given a rotary'reciprocating motion to produce heel-and-toe work. While a asses doing the latter substantially one-half of the needles are first thrown out of action, and a portion of the remaining needles are then thrown out of action one by one to narrow and then restored in the reverse order to widen. Before describing the mechanism for doing this, however, I will first refer to the support and construction of the needle-cylinder 72, in the vertical grooves of which the needles 71 are fitted to reciprocate, each of said needles having a heel 73 to be operated upon by the' knitting-cams, the picking-finger, and the cams for throwing part of the series of needles out of action and back again. As has been mentioned, the cup-shaped bearing 4 is supported by and below the bed 1 by the frame. The needle cylinder extends through a central opening in the cam-ring (see Fig. 7) and rests upon an annular shoulder 74:,formed upon a web-guide 75, which has a portion of one side out away,as shown. The upper end ofthe said web-guide, which is cylindrical, extends within the needle-cylinder, and the lower end, which is also cylindrical, is steadied within a ring 76, secured to and supported by two rods or bars 77, which are bolted to and depend from the bottom of the cup-shaped bearing 4. Thering 76 is provided with a projecting lugor ear 78, (see Fig. 31 in connection with Figs. 2 and 3,) to which a block 79 is secured by means of a bolt 80. Astop consisting of a bolt 81 extends verticallythrough the inner end of the block and projects above the same. The webguide 75 normally rests on the stop except when raised for lengthening the stitch, as will be described hereinafter, and saidwebguide in turn supports the needle-cylinder by means ofthe shoulder 74. Owingto the stop 81 being adjustable in the block 79 the normal elevation of the needle-cylinder may be adjusted to alter the length of stitch.

ting-cams will nextbedescribed. w

. cured to the ring 70.

A cam-web 82, which forms about threefourths of a circle, (see Fig. 10in connection with Figs. 5 to 9 and 13 to 16,) is formed at each end with an incline or cam 83 and is se- The cams 83 act on the heels of the needlesto raise them during the knitting operation, the said heels riding on the top of the web after being raised until. acted on by one of the draw-cams, presently described. During straight or roundand-round knitting but one of the cams S3 acts, but on heel-and-toe work,when the cams are all given a rotary reciprocating movement, as before described, the two inclines or cams 83 act alternately to raise the needles. The two draw-cams 84 to lower the needles and draw the loops of yarn are substantially the same in construction (see Fig. 6 in connection with Figs. 5, S, and 17) except that ther cam-surfaces face in opposite directions toward each other. In Fig. 8 one of these cams is shown in the act of drawing down the needles at the right. Each cam 8 of needles, the spring 89 permitting the enis formed on the end of a block 85, which is secured to a plate 86 on the inner end of a .slide 87, said slide being fitted to reciprocate in a direction radial tothe needle-cylinder in a guide-block 88, secured to the ring 70. A spring 89 is confined between the outer closed end of the block 88 and the slide, the latter being preferably hollow to permit a longer tire block and cam to be moved outward. Fig. 6 one of the draw-cams'is shown as pushedaway from the needle-cylinder by this action, while the other cam is pushed toward the cylinder by its spring and the point of the cam is in position to engage the tops of the needle-heels and move them down. This is during round-and-ronnd work. During heel-and-toe work the rotary reciprocating motion of the cam-ring causes first one cam 84 to operate, the other being pushed away as described, and thenontheyreverse movement the activityof the two cams 84 is re versed. p 3

Having now described the knitting-cams andtheir operation,I will next refer to the means for rendering a series of the needles inactive when heel-and-toe work is to be commenced. 1 y k i As indicated in Figs. .6, 7, and 16, substantially one-half ot' the needles are provided =with heels longer than those of the other needles. The long-heelneedlesare the ones that are to be rendered inactive at the commence ment of the heel-and-toe work and to remain so during said work. To do this,'I provide a cam 90, (see Figs. 5 and 6 in connection with Figs. 7, 9, 10, and 16,) which travelsin a plane entirelybelow the needle-heels during circular orronnd-and-round knitting, but which is adapted to be raised from that plane when the change to heel-and-toe work begins. Said cam 90 is secured to a block 91, risingfrom a segmental plate 92, which normally fits in a correspohdinglyshaped space in the flange of the cam-web S2 and which is provided with a pin 93, extending down through the cam-ring and through a long tubular bearing 94, depending from saidring 70. The lower end of the pin 93 is adapted to be acted upon in a vertical direction by a circular plate 95 within the cup-shaped bearing 4, the means for raising and lowering which at the commencement and end of heel-and-toe work,.respectively, will be described hereinafter.

The block 91 and cam 90 are prevented from rotating on the axis of the pin 93 bythe rzo inner edge of the segmental plate 92,-whiel1 at all times is in contact with the outer side of the cam-web 82. (See Fig. 10.) By referring to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the cam 90 the right of that figure to the position shown at the left of said figure, thus carrying them out of position to be operated by the drawcams. The block 91 has also secured to it an arm 96, having the throwing-in cam 97 at the end thereof located to move in a path close to the cylinder, the acting face of this cam being indicated in Fig. 5 and by dotted lines in Fig. 5. This cam 97 when lowered engages the tops of the long heels and one short heel, as will be hereinafter described, and said cam when the block 91 is lowered at the end of the heel-and-toe work sweeps over the long heels and'the single short heel and lowers the needles to position for circular work'that is,

from the position shown at the left of Fig. 9 to the position shown at the'right of that figu re. A pin 98 projects from the cam 90 and is engaged by'the outer end of a spring 99, the other end of which is secured to the flange of the cam-web 82. Said spring acts to depress the block 91 and cams when permitted by the descent of plate 95, as hereinafter described. The mechanism for picking out the needles one by one and restoring them to activity in reverse order during the narrowing and widening in heel-and-toe work will next'be described, reference being had particularly to Figs. 5, 6, ll to 16, inclusive, and' 18. I

Mounted on the cam-ring 70 and rotating therewith is an arched standard 100, provided with an offset 101, in which is a vertical bore 1 or recess 102, closed atthe top, as shown in Fig. 1 1. A plunger 103 is fitted to slideand oscillate on its axis within said recess and is pressed downward by a spring 104, confined between the plunger and the top of the recess. To the lower end of this plunger the picking-finger 105 is pivoted, said plunger af-f fording a support for the picking-finger-and yielding vertically against thepressure of the spring 101, and the outer short end or heel 106 of the finger is held betweentwo springs 107, secured to the standard or offset.

(See

Fig. 18.) 7 These springs have a tendency to hold the picking-fingerand the plungerin such position that the finger is radialto the needle-cylinder, but permit these parts to swing to either side of that position.- The acting end of the picking finger is formed somewhat in the form of an equal-armed cross, (see Fig. 32,) with two vertical-lugs 108 and two horizontal lugs 109, which are adapted to act 7 on the heels of the needles, as presently de scribed. In order that the spring 104 may act to press the picking end of the finger upward, as shown 'in Figs.-5 and 14, or downward,as shown in Fig. 13, I provide a movthe other end of the series.

This fulcrum 110 consists of a horizontal arm, having a sharp upper edge projecting from an elbow-lever 111, pivoted to the side ofthe standard-offset 101. The upper arm of the elbow-lever 111 is adapted to be acted upon by either one of the cams 112, fixed to a block 113, that is vertically movable at oneside of the bed, as hereinafter described. The cams 112 have no movement other than a vertical one, and hence as the outer end of lever 111 sweeps around between them it may come in contact with one or the other, according to the elevation of the block 113 and the cams, and so cause the knife-edge fulcrum-arm to shift from the position shown in Fig. 13 to that shown ,in Fig. 14, or vice versa. The limit of movement of the fulcrum in one direction is imposed by its coming in'contact with the outer side of the standard 100 and in the other direction by a stop 114, secured to one side of the offset 101, as shown in Figs. 5 and 18. To the feet of the standard 100 is secured a curved plate 115, (see Figs; 6, 13, 14, and 15,) having an opening through'which the picker extends. This opening has two upper oppositely-inclined sides or cams 116 and two loweroppositely-inclined sides or cams' 117, slots 118 being formed as horizontal continuat-ions of the opening at the ends of the cams. The operation of this portion of the machine is as follows: When narrow .ing is to be commenced at the heel or toe and after the cam 90 has raised all of-the long-heel needles out of action, the block 113 is raised by mechanism hereinafter described and'the lower cam 112 throws the elbow-lever 111, and

consequently the picking-finger 105, into the position-shown in Fig. 13. At the same time the motion of the cam-ring is changed from a continuous rotary to a rotary reciprocating movement by the means hereinbefore dc scribed and during which movement neither cam 90'nor cam 97 performs any function.

As one side of the upper lug 1080f the picker comes in contact with'the side ofthe butt of the first needle of the remaining series of needles, theend of the picker is stopped, (see Fig.'16;)' but since the cam-ringcontinues. to move, and with it the standard'100 and cam-plate11-5, one'of thelower cams 117 of the plate rides under the finger and elevates it,,thus"causing the upper surface of] one of the lugs-109 of the picker to throw that needle up out of action; Asthe fi-uger finally rides into'the slot 118 of the plate 115,the swinging of the finger from a radial to a'tangential position (see dotted lines in Fig. 16) causesthe lugs of the finger to leave the butt of that needle and in the plane insured by the height of the slot 118. As soon asthe finger leaves said needle the springs 104. and 107 cause it to assume the p'ositio'n in-v dicated in Fig. 13 and by the full'lines in'Fi 16,1'ea'dy. to engage and elevate a needle at To prevent the finger from throwing a needle too high',a guard 119 (see Figs. 8, 13, and 17) is attached to one of the guide-blocks 88 and is curved in a horizontal plane across the space within which the picking-finger operates, said guard being sufficiently close to the needle-cylinder to act as a stop for the heels'of the needles. When the needles are to be brought back again into action one by one for widening, the block 113 is lowered by mechanism hereinafter described and the upper cam reverses the position of the elbow-lever 111, resulting in moving the picker to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 1%. Then the lower lug 108 of the picker and the under surfaces of the lugs 109 act on the butts of the needles one by one to depress them under the influence of the upper cams 116 of the plate 115 in the same manner as has been described in connection with the operation of elevating the needles. \Vhen all of the short-heel needles except one at each end of the series have been rendered active, the block 91 is lowered and the first complete rotation of ring causes the cam 97 to throw in all of the elevated needles, which are the long-heel needles, and the two remaining short-heel needles, and round-andround work is automatically resumed. The reason for throwing in the last two fashion ing-needles simultaneously with the longheel needles is to avoid leaving a small hole in the fabric each side of the heel. When allof the needles are down, the picking-finger engages none of the heels, for said finger is then in the position shown in Fig. 5, the block 113 and cams 112 being lowered at this time, as hereinafter described. t

The web-holders or sinkers, as they are sometimes termed, which cooperate with the needles and prevent the lifting of the web by the upward movement of the needles and help to draw the stitch, areindicated at 120. (See Figs. 7 and 30 in connection with Figs. 1, 1, and 5.) They are supported in radial grooves in a bed 121, which is secured to the needlecylinder, as by screws 122, said bed having a horizontal flange 123, which forms the hearing. fora ring 124, carrying the cams for reciprocating the web-holders. Said web-holders are or may be of the usual form atthe inner ends; but their outer ends are formed.

as follows: Eachweb-holder has an upper shoulderl25,adapted to limit the inwardmovelnent thereof by abutting against the outer wallof the bed 121, and a lower shoulder 126, which is at agreater distance from the point of the web-holder than theshoulder 125 in order to leave a slight space betweensaid shoulder 126, and the outer wall of the'bed.

This permits the cams whichare carried by the ring 12% to enter said space easily to withdraw the holder; The outer ends of the-web holders are notched, as at 127, to receive an elastic band 128, which'act-s on all the web holders to hold them inward and prevent their being thrown out bycentrifugal force.

Said band preferably consists of an endless coil of fine steel wire. 7

The cams which are carried by the ring 124 are shown in Fig. 4:, in which 129 represents the double-ended cam for engaging the inner sides of the shoulders 126 for moving the webholders outward during either direction of movement of the ring, and 130 represents the two cams also carried by the ring 124 for engaging the outer ends of the web-holders to retract them, aided by the action of the endless spring 128. Secured to the under side of the ring 124 are two blocks 131, the positions of which are indicated by dotted lines in Fig 4; and between which a striker 132 extends, said striker projecting from a standard 133, (see Fig. 5,) which rises from and rotates or oscillates with the cam-ring 70. \Vhen the cam-ring 70 is revolving continuously, the striker engages but one of the blocks 131; but when oscillating the striker engages the two blocks alternately and reciprocates the ring. The space between the two blocks 131 corresponds somewhat with the space bet ween the knitting-cams and permits of the web holders and needles remaining at rest while the picking-finger is changing its position, as heretofore described. By pulling away the spring-band 128 either entirely or for portions at a time theweb-holders may be easily withdrawn and replaced by others, if desired, or those which are used most continuously may replace those which are less worn on the other side of the machine, and vice versa.

The latch-guard ring 13 1 (see Figs. 4 and 5) is adapted to be swung up out of the way whenever desired, as when placinga new c1111" on the needles or to enable the needles to be more readily examined without removing it from its support by the cam ring 70. Said guard-ring 134 is formed as the central portion of an armor lever 135,pivoted at 136 to the top of the standard 133, any suitable means beingemployedto retain the arm in a substant ially, upright position when raised, .The front end of thearm 135 is adapted to rest when in operativepposition on the top of theoffset portion of ITIQSU lIldrLlCi. 100, which is provided with two upwardly extending plates137, (seeFigs. 5 and18,) between which the arm 135 is confined. [These two plates 137, in conjunction withthe pivotal connection with standard 133, insure the retention of the lever or arm 135 and guard-ring1 34 in proper positiondurii g the operationofthe machine. I

The yarn-changing. devicesare carried by the lever Yand are particularly simple and efficient in construction and operation.- The upper surface of therouter end of the lever 144, against which the ends of a lever 145 bear. Said lever 145 is pivoted to the guardring arm be ween thetwo slides, and hence when one slide is pushed in its arm 144 acts through the lever 145 and the other arm 144 to push the other slide out. The inner ends of the slides are provided each With a raised portion or stop 146, adapted to abut against a fixed stop 147 between the slides to limit the outward movement of said slides. Stops 148 are also aflixed to the guard-ring arm and projectlaterally orin opposite directions from the slides to limit the movements'of the lever 145. The means for automatically reversing the positions of the two guide-eyes to change the yarn when changing from circular to heel-- and-toe work will be described presently.

By having the arms 144 and the stops 148 project laterally away from the slides the ends of said arms and stops are located at snfficient distances from said slidesto enable a lever 145 of considerable length to be employed, the slides themselves being located very close together, so as to bring the guideeyes 140 as near to each other as possible. This construction, including the lever of extended length, enables the alternate positions of the slides and guide-eyes to be fixed with accuracy.

The curved web-guide 149 (see Fig. 4) is formed at the outer end of a spring-arm 150, secured to the arm 135 back of the latchring, as indicated at 151m Fig. 5. A recess 152 is formed in the edge of the web-guide, said recess having hooked ends .to-retain the yarn which is not being knitted in position for use again when the next change ismade.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 11, and 12, I will describe the means for causing the yarn-guide eyes-to change posit-ion. A plate 153 is secured to the bed 1 of the machine and has a vertical sleeve-bearing 154 extending over and below said bed. (See Fig. 1.) Said bear ing is for a lift-rod 155, the lower end of which bears upon and is operated by alever 156, the control of which will be hereinafter described. To the upper end of the lift-rod is secured a sleeve 157, having an arm 158, carrying a block159, to the upper and lower surfaces of which are secured plates having cam-shaped edges 160. .Said cams 160 are so.

spaced that one or the other of the rollers 14 1 and 143 of the yarn-changing slides may sweep between them when no change in the yarn is to be effected; but when the yarn-guide slides are to beshifted from the p'osit-ionsshown in.

ment of the roller 143, which, moving overthe edge of said cam, reverses the positions of the guide-eyes hereinbefore described. A guide-pin 161 rises from the-plate153 and extends through the block 159 tohold said block and the cams 160 against lateral move- I ment. When the yarn-guides are to be shifted back again, the rod 155 is lowered tonor' used in widening'as in narrowing.

mal position and brings the'upp'er cam 160 into the path of movement of the roller-141 of the now-projected slide 138, and thus again effect the change of yarn. V

The figu res of the drawings which have just been referred to also illustrate the means for shifting the cams 112, which change the operation of the picking-finger 105, heretofore described. The block 113, carrying the cams 112, is supported by an arm 162, projecting from a'sleeve 163, loosely mounted on the liftrod 155. The guide-pin 16.1 passes through the arm 162 to steady it, as well as the block 159. A pin 164, projecting from the arm 162, is normally engaged by a lug 165, carried by a spring166, the upper end of which is secured to a lug 167, projecting from'the arm 158. The side of lug 165 is inclined, as at 168, and below this incline the lower end of the spring 166 is curved or inclined, as at 169,

under the end of a finger 170, fixed to the plate 153.,To render the operation of this described hereinaf-ter.viz., that the cams.

which act on the lift-rod 155 impart two elevations to it for each narrowing and widening operation, during which time the yarn is changed. The first lift of the rod 155 elevates the block' 159 and cams 160 and changes the yarn as above described. At the same time through the medium of the spring 166, its lug165, and the pin 164 the block-113 is elevated, and this brings the'picking-fiuger into operation for narrowing, as has been hereinbefore described. -Of course the timing of the operation of other parts is such that simultaneously the needles having the'long heels are thrown out of action and the rotaryreciprocating motion of the knitting-ca ms takes the place of the continuous mot-ion. When the narrowing is completed, the lift-rod 155 is first, giving to the arm 158 what may be termed a-hitch. This is'butmomentarmbutit serves to draw the curved lower end 1690f the spring 166 upward over, but not entirely above,.the end of the fixed finger 170, which pushes the spring ontward'sufficiently to carry the lug 165 out from underthe pin 164 of the arm 162.

The arm 162 and its blo'ckand cams-112 immediately drop and cause the operation of the picking-finger to beginrestoring the needles for widening, as has been hereinbefore de? scribed. The second elevation or hitch of the lift-rodfis for this purpose only, and the position of the cams 160 is not so changedas to shift the yarn-guides, 'for the same yarn is taneously, however, with'the resumption of continuousrotary mot ion of the knitting-cams and the restoration of all 'theneedles to po-' sitions of activity the lift-rod descends toits r25 Simul- 1 o normal position and the upper cam effects the change of theyarn to the color and qualitypreferred for the'i'oundand-round work and g the inclined lower side 1680f the lug rides down over the pin 16a and then the lug snaps under saidpin, ready for the next operation.

The picking-finger is left turned upward, as indicated in Fig. 5; but there being no needles with their heels in a plane to be engaged by the said finger the latter remains out of operation until the next change, as described.

The means for effecting the elevation of the lift-rod and of the plate 95 and of the needlecylinder will next be described.

Secured to the shaft 30 at the opposite end thereof from the belt-shi pping disk is a disk 171, to which two sets of cams are attached. (See Figs. 2, 3, 23, 21, and 25.) To this disk are attached two similar plates or cars 172, the operative edges or surfaces of which are ofiset, so as to stand some little distance away from the disk itself. (See Fig. 25.) Each of these plates or ears is formed with a cam-surface 173, a portion 17-1, which is concentric with the axis of shaft 30, and a camlug 175 near the rear end of the plate.

The lever 156 hereinbefore described and which operates the lift-rod is pivoted on the shaft 26 and has its front'beveled end 176 in the path of movement of the cams 173 and 175. The cam 173 imparts the first elevation to the lift-rod, while the cam 175 gives it the second elevation or hitch before referred to, after which the end 176 of the lever passes to the short section of plate 172 behind the cam 175 and at the nest advance of the disk it passes ed the plate 172 and to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Rigidly connected with the lever 156, so as to oscillate therewith, is an upwardly-p rojecting arm 177, having its end formed with two steps 178 180, connected by an incline or cam 179. (See Fig. 3.) A spring 181, secured to the bearing for the lever 156 and arm 177, ,bears against a pin 182, projecting from the arm 177, and tends to hold said arm and the lever 156 in the position shown in Fig. 3, a stop 183, projecting from the ring 76, serving to limit the movement of said lever and arm toward the left in said figure.

The circular plate 95, which, as hereinbefore stated, rises and falls to control the action of the cams and-97, is secured to a rod18-;t,' which is adapted. to slide vertically through an opening in the cup-shaped bearing 4 and in a guide 185, carried by one of the bars 77. The lower end of the slide-rod 184 rests (mum upper end of the arm 177, and as the latter oscillates passes from step 178 to step 180 over the incline .179, orvice versa The action of these parts is-s'o timed thatthe circular plate is elevated to renderinactive the needles having the long heels 1 simultaneously with the first elevation of the lift-rod by,- cam 173,*which,as before stated, causes the change of yarn; and the commencement of operation of the pickerfinger; but when the lift-rod is given its second elevation or hitch by means of cam-lug the step 17 8 simply moves slightly across the lower end of the slide-rod 18 1 without affecting the elevation of the circular plate 95. The disk 171 carries also two segments 186, each having a ca1n-surface 187 at one end adapted to act upon a block 188, carried by a lever 189, pivoted at 190 to the frame'of the machine and having a lug 191, adapted to bear against the lower edgeof the web-guide 75 when the latter is to be lifted to elevate the needle cylinder, as hereinbefore mentioned. .In order to adjust the amount of elevation that may be imparted to the Webholder and needle-cylinder by the cams, the block 188 is adj ustably connected with the lever 189. As shown in Fig. 3, said block is carried by a plate-spring 192, attached at 1.913 to thennder side of the lever, a screw 194 being tapped through the lever and bearing on the free end of said plate-spring. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 25, the cam-segments 186 are secured close to the disk 171, so that when the block 188 is not being acted on by said segments it will ride along the edge of said disk.

The needle-cylinder 72, as has been stated, rests upon the shoulder 74 of the Web-guide 75. (See Fig. 7.) The upper end of the latter is surrounded by the needle-cylinder, and the fit is such that the cylinder could be rotated upon its seat if not locked. In order to prevent accidents from arising from any disarrangement'of the cams carried. by the ring 70 relatively to the needles, I provide a yielding lock for securing the needle-cylinder to the upper end of the web-guide. This look, as shown in Figs. 7, 27, and 28, consists of a spring-bar 195, secured to the inner wall of the web-guide and havinga wedge-shaped lug 196 at its upper end, which lug extends through an opening in the web guide and into 'a tapered recess 197 in the inner wall of the needle-cylinder. The bar may be yielding throughout its length, but preferably its point of chief elasticity is near the lower end, as at 198. The upper end of the bar 195 rests in a vertical groove 199 in the inner wall of the web-guide 75, and said bar and its lug and force it inward, thus unlocking thecylinder from itssupport and permitting itto rotate. In order thatthe wedge-shaped lug may be held in its recess with greater or less force, the lower end of the bar 195 is formed with a shoulder or lug200, and screws 201 1 pass throughthe bar above and-below said lug.. By loosening one screw and turning in the otherthe bar is rocked on its lug 200 as a fulcrum, and thus forces the lug 196 more orless into the recess of the needle-cylinder.

This automatic or self-releasing1ockpermits the needle-cylinder to be turned readily by 

